The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-24
CHAPTER V.
JACKSONVILLE.

It was the 10th of February Zernah and the
Dverseer crossing the river to Jacksonville
the boat being rowed by four negroes. Three
days before James Burbank had returned to
Castle House, and Texar to Black creek after
the affair at st. Augustine.
The day before MIR. Stannard had heard from
Candles Bay. about the last letter from Gilbert
The news did not arrive any too soon for Alice.
whose life had been of continual anxiety
since the outbreak of the
The boat under her lateen-sail slipped along
swiftly. In q quarter of an hour she reached
Jacksonville.
Twelve years ago Jacksonville was but big
village, with suburb, where the black popula-
ton lived in huts built of mud and reeds. At
the time of our story the village was becoming a
town. Its houses were becoming more comfort
able, its streets better planned and better kept,
and the number of its inhabitants doubled. And
the We ar before the chief town OF Duval county
had gained considerably by being united by
railway to Tallahassee, which is the capital of
Florida
The overseer and Zermah noticed that there
was good deal of excitement in the town.
Some hundreds of the inhabitants, Southerners
of American birth, and mulattoes and half
breeds of Spanish origin, were waiting for the
arrival Of the steamboat of which the smoke was
in sight down stream over a low point of the st.
Johns Some even, in order to reach the vessel
more quickly, had started towards her in rowing
boats, and others had gone off in few of those
one masted logger boats which are so common at
jacksonville
There had been serious news from the war the
evening before. The scheme of operations limited
at in Gilbert Burbanks letter had become partly
known. 1t had been ascertaned that Commo-
dore Dupont's fiotilla was getting ready for sea,
nnds that General Sherman was to take his
troops on I ard. Where was the expedition GO
inRl They could not say for certain but every
thing pointed to the St Johns and the coast of
Florida as being its object.
When the steamer, which came from Fernan-
dina had stopped at Jacksonville, her passen-
gers could only confirm the news. They even
added that Commodore Dupont would probably
anchor in st. Andrews bay. while waiting for a
favorable moment to force the passes at Amelia
island and the estuary of the St. Johns.
Immediately the mob swarmed up into the
town, putting to noisy fight the flock of urubus
which do the scavengering of the streets
Shouts arose, "Down with the Northernersl
Death to the Northerners!" Such were the cries
that Texar's friends started to further excite
the already excited population. The crowd
gathered in front of the courthouse the police
Office and the Episcopal church. Tie authori-
ties would have more trouble in quieting the
outbreak, particularly Jacksonville. we
have already remarked, was divided on the slave
question. And in times of trouble the noisiest
and the hastiest make the law, and the mod
crate men eventually submit to their domina-
ton
Naturally, in the taverns and tiendas the
shouts were the loudest There it was that the
plans were formed for offering indomitable
resistance to the invasion.
Let us send the militia to Fernandina.' said
one.
Let us sink some ships in the channel Of the
ST. Johns said another
"Let up some earthworks round the
city, and get the guns for them." said another
LET US send for help by the railway from
Fernandina to Keys"
Let us put out the light at Pablo, and so pre-
vent the enemy's fleet getting in at night"
Let put down torpedoes in the river"
The torpedo was almost a thing in the
American war, and although they were not too
well acquainted with the way to manage it. they
were evidently longing to use it.
"Above all" said one of the most excited ora
tors at the tienda of Torillo. 1--WE should send to
Jail all the Northerners in the town, and all
those Southerners who think with them"
It would have been very strange if somebody
bad not brought forward this proposition, the
ultima ratio of sectaries everywhere. And, OF
course, it was received with cheers. Luckily
for the honest people of Jacksonville the magis-
trates were to hesitate some time before giving
in to this popular prayer
AS she passed through the Streets Zermah
took careful notice of what was going
TO tell her master. He would be seriously af-
fected by this movement. If violent
were taken such measures would not stop at the
town. They would extend beyond it to the
plantations of the county. Candies Bay would
be one OF the first to be visited Hence the
half breed, in order to obtain more precise nfor
nation. called at Mr.. STANDARDS house, a little
way out of town.
This was charming comfortable dwelling
agreeably situated in a sort of green oasis which
the clearing-ax had left in the of the
plain. Under Alices the inside well as
the outside of the house excellently looked
after.
Zermah was received with great cordially.
At first Alice spoke to her about Gilbert's letter.
and Zermah was able to tell her almost his very
words.
'.Yes." said Alice, he is not far off now. But
under what circumstances will he come back to
Floridal And what dangers may there not be
for him before the expedition is over!"
Dangers, Alice" said Mr. Stsnnard. ''Do
not be nervous Gilbert faced greater when
off the coast of Georgia and in that
Port Royal affair. do not think Floridas re-
sistance will be very terrible or very long
What can we do with this ST. Johns which will
let the gunboats into the very heart of the
eountryl All defense seems to difficult. if
not impossible"
MAY what you say be true" said Alice land
may heaven7Grant that the war will soon be
over"
sit will only end by wpng out the South"
replied Mr.. Stannard. That will take long
time, am afraid and Jefferson Davis and his
Johnston and Beauregard-will
hold out for some time in the center. The fed